Learn all there is to know about Lake Sinclair

Spanning the Central Georgia counties of Baldwin, Hancock, and Putnam, Lake Sinclair is surrounded by heavily wooded hills and contains several scenic islands. The surrounding landscape is well-known for its exceptional natural beauty. In fact, Lake Sinclair is boarded by national forestland and a waterfowl wildlife refuge.

 

Although it seems far removed from civilization at times, the southern shore of Lake Sinclair touches the charming historic city of Milledgeville. The capital of Georgia during the Civil War, Milledgeville is the county seat of Baldwin County and supports a current population of roughly 17,000. Roughly equidistant from Atlanta and Augusta, the Milledgeville/Lake Sinclair area is roughly two hours away by car from each of these cities (the biggest and second-biggest cities in Georgia).

 

A Short History of Lake Sinclair

The Muscogee Creek people of the Cherokee Native American tribe named the Oconee River using a Cherokee word that means “water eyes of the hills.” In 1954, the Georgia Power Company dammed the waters of the Oconee in Milledgeville to create Lake Sinclair as a reservoir to facilitate electric power production. The lake bears the name of respected Georgia Power official Benjamin W. Sinclair.

 

With plenty of scenic winding coves and vast stretches of open water, Lake Sinclair became a magnet for real estate development that brought considerable financial investment and many new residents into the area. Managed by a planned cooperative program, all property development around Lake Sinclair must comply with restrictions that protect the natural environment and local quality of life.

 

Lake Sinclair Facts and Figures

Lake Sinclair is a reservoir for the Georgia Power Company’s Harllee Branch Power Plant. By allowing water to pass through Lake Sinclair Dam, this power plant can produce as many as 1,539 megawatts of electricity.

 

One of the biggest lakes in the state, Lake Sinclair has roughly 417 miles of shoreline and a surface area more than 15,330 acres. It has an average depth of 86 feet and approximately 330,000 acre-feet of water volume.

 

The Pristine Quality of Lake Sinclair

In addition to its status as one of the biggest lakes in Georgia, Lake Sinclair is also one of the cleanest. Although the clarity of the water in Lake Sinclair varies from location to location, it is important to remember that “clear” doesn’t necessarily mean “clean.” In fact, many lakes with exceptionally clear water are horribly polluted

 

Because significant portions of its bed are covered by sand and mud, Lake Sinclair isn’t always as crystal clear as the purely rock bottom lakes that you can find higher in the mountains. Many areas of Lake Sinclair will become cloudy after heavy rainfalls. While most of these areas tend to clarify naturally within one or two weeks, some can remain cloudy for longer.

 

Generally speaking, the clearest water can be found on the southern side of Lake Sinclair close to the dam. Local experts can tell you which parts of the lake tend to be clear and which are subject to cloudiness.

 

Lake Sinclair Outdoor Recreation and Area Amenities

Lake Sinclair is large enough to support virtually all types of outdoor aquatic recreation, and boats of all shapes and sizes can be found on Lake Sinclair year-round. Beyond mere boating, visitors to the lake can up the thrill factor by going water skiing or wave running. You can also take your time by piloting a canoe, kayak, paddle board, or another form of human-propelled watercraft.

 

As you navigate the waters of Lake Sinclair, you’ll want to visit one or more of the islands that are scattered about. In particular, you may want to check out the legendary Goat Island. As part of its activities in the area, the Georgia Power Company first populated this unpopulated island with goats in the 1950s. The descendants of these goats remain on the island today, much to the delight of boaters who land there.

 

The fishing on Lake Sinclair is so good that it is often the home to both club level and professional fishing tournaments. Specifically, the lake is a great place to catch largemouth bass, striped bass, crappie, and catfish. The area is even home to a convenient handicapped accessible fishing pier near Lake Sinclair Dam.

 

Living in the Lake Sinclair Area

If you’re looking for a lake homes in an amazing place, you owe it to yourself to check out Lake Sinclair. Let the Lake Sinclair real estate agents at Kim and Lin Logan Real Estate show you what the area has to offer.